New Hope Scholarships, Inc.

WHO ARE WE, AND WHY DO WE CARE?

The principal officers of our not for profit organization, earn their living through the ownership, operation and control of a prison services company. The company is a for-profit entity, and is supported by inmates in hundreds of prisons throughout the country. All of their employees have either been employed in a prison, or they have served time in a prison. Their for profit company was started because one of our officers identified a need for an honest and ethical prison services company while he was serving time. When he was finally released he and his wife formed the company as a way of giving back, and as a means of providing inmates with services others promise but do not always deliver. They also hoped to supplement their retirement income from the businesses sales. Over time their business has grown and become hugely successful…and this is only because their inmate customers believe in them, support their products and services, and continue to refer them to others to the company. It is not a crime to become successful in business, and their business has indeed become a success by whatever standard one uses as a measurement.

At least daily, and usually more often, our principals receive e-mails, cards and letters from their freedom challenged customers, and their loved ones asking, sometimes even begging for them to find a way to assist incarcerated individuals come up with funds for educational purposes. Many seek junior college and college courses, others seek technical and professional courses. Every single one of them has in mind bettering him or her self to become more employable upon release. We attempted going down all sorts of avenues in an effort to obtain funding for educational purposes for those who are currently freedom challenged. Wherever we tried, doors slammed tightly shut, and we came up hitting stone walls. It would seem no one really gives a hoot until either someone in their family gets popped, or a dude gets out of prison, comes home, finds he can’t afford formula for his baby, and despite his very best efforts, and pounding lots of pavement, he can’t find a job…. In such a case what would you do? By no means do we condone in any way, manner shape or form, any one committing a crime no matter the purpose; on the other hand would you listen to your hungry baby cry and do nothing? Do you believe the average child grows up aspiring to live a life of crime? We do not. Poverty, lack of education, and failure to develop marketable skills are the breeders and hot beds of anti social behavior.